Leadership, confidence, adaptability, and integrity are traits possessed by veterans of U.S. military service and also skills that help insurance and financial professionals succeed in their careers. So, no one should be surprised that veterans very often make great agents and advisors.

Steven Saladino, LUTCF, a Managing Director with Principal Financial Group in Tampa, FL, is just one example. Steve was a sergeant in the United States Army and a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division, serving from 1986-1990. He has been a loyal NAIFA member since 1991 and currently serves on NAIFA’s Board of Trustees.

Congratulations to NAIFA member Andy Dalka for being hired by Union Bank & Trust as vice president – business development officer in its Retirement Plan Services department. This NAIFA-Nebraska board member’s success is due to his plethora of successful experience in the financial services industry, and his experience with leadership roles, such as being the regional vice president of Nationwide and Ameritas.

NAIFA’s New Mexico chapter has proven to be a strong promoter of NAIFA, whether it be through social media or events, this chapter does it all. Executive Director of the chapter, Lynda Turner, has called for her members to be more active with NAIFA, asking them to join one of NAIFA’s weekly onboarding and orientation Zoom meetings. There was a resounding response to Turner’s request from her members, showing strong support from this chapter’s members to NAIFA. The sessions are held every Monday at 3 p.m. eastern, and a registration form is online at the NAIFA members’ portal.

OneAmerica will have two panelists for the NAIFA 2021 Long Term Care Impact Week event starting on November 1st - November 5th.  Jeff Levin and Michelle Prather are both loyal NAIFA members and their expertise will provide valuable insights for the event.

On November 3rd, Levin, the Divisional Vice President, Care Solutions. will join the  Executive Leadership Roundtable to discuss the challenges and other issues industry leaders address with LTC.

On October 19th, Andrew J. Rinn, JD, CFP, CLU, ChFC, Vice President of Advanced Marketing & Case and Competition at Ameritas (and loyal NAIFA member since 2018),  will be presenting  Life Insurance in Qualified Plans - Bridging the Retirement Planning Gap with actuary Scott McHenry. During this presentation, they will cover various topics such as how to identify potential clients and concerns, different approaches, and more.

The Board of NAIFA-New Jersey is proud to announce that the state chapter's annual meeting will be held on October 19, 2021. The event will be held from 9 am - 12 pm as a virtual event for the health of all participants.

Rick Demko, LUTCF, LACP, RICP, Director of Insurance at Centric Risk Strategies, loyal member since 2015 and 4 Under 40 Award Winner, is featured in the latest episode of ReminderMedia’s Stay Paid podcast series. 

New York Life has named Robert Petrocelli, Founder and Managing Director of Petrocelli Financial Services in New York City and a loyal NAIFA member since 1979, as the 2021-2022 Chair of the influential New York Life Agent Advisory Board of Directors (ABD). The ABD, according to the company, “is an elite group of 16 agents who meet with the company’s executive leaders to provide their perspectives on corporate strategic initiatives based on their experience in the insurance and financial services industry and running among the most successful agent practices in the country.”

Monique Fanfan, a native of Haiti who came to the United States to have her shot at the American dream, began her career in financial services working in a bank. She then went on to work for a financial investment firm out of New York and later she spent 15 years as an accountant.

Ameritas held its Pathways conference this week in Denver, Colorado. Randy Clark, Senior Director of Membership Outreach & Engagement, and Beth Helberg, Director of Partner Marketing, attended from NAIFA staff to support the event. Thanks to Ameritas, we were able to organize a group photo of some of our many NAIFA members who are part of Ameritas. NAIFA members were ecstatic to have the opportunity to unite together for the first time in over a year to show their pride in belonging to their beloved professional association.